Method and Device for the Transport of Goods by Rail

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method and device are disclosed for the transport of goods by rail, wherein goods wagons are used with independent propulsion means. The propulsion means for the goods wagons are used only for short journeys from a station to a customer and back. For long journeys the goods wagons are assembled into a train and pulled by a tractor vehicle.

PRIORITY STATEMENT

This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2006/068900 which has an International filing date of Nov. 24, 2006, which designated the United States of America, and which claims priority on German patent publication DE 10 2006 000 788.3, filed Jan. 4, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

At least one embodiment of the invention generally relates to a method for transporting goods by rail, wherein goods wagons with their own drive devices are used.

At least one embodiment of the invention also generally relates to a device for transporting goods by rail, wherein goods wagons have their own drive devices.

BACKGROUND ART

For a long time customary goods trains have been composed of a locomotive and a number of goods wagons. Frequently, only a small number of goods wagons, and sometimes even just one goods wagon, are/is to be placed on a specific track. This is generally a connecting track for a customer who is receiving goods or wishes to dispatch goods. Operating such a connecting track requires either that the entire goods train has to drive into the connecting track in order to deposit or collect only one goods wagon or a small number of goods wagons, or that complicated shunting maneuvers become necessary.

It has also already been proposed to operate track connections of customers with what is referred to as a cargo mover. In a cargo mover, a complete drive and control unit is accommodated in a single wagon so that, similarly to a truck on the road, it is an individual vehicle which travels independently. However, the cargo mover has the disadvantage that it must be compatible with long distance journeys. It must therefore contain all the prescribed safety devices and also be able to reach a sufficiently high speed. Finally, it is necessary for each cargo mover to be steered by a vehicle driver. The cargo mover is therefore not economical enough for long distance journeys.

SUMMARY

At least one embodiment of the invention is directed to specifying a method and/or a device for transporting goods by rail which can economically optimize both the collection and delivery of relatively small quantities of goods on track connections and also transportation over large distances.

At least one embodiment of the method includes drive devices of the goods wagons being used only for short distance journeys from a railroad station to a customer and back, wherein for long distance journeys, the goods wagons are assembled to form a train which is pulled by a tractor vehicle.

This method of at least one embodiment provides the advantage that even though the goods wagons can be constructed with their own drive devices, they can still be constructed simply and cost effectively because they are used only for short distance journeys, specifically between a connecting track and the next railroad station. These short distance journeys require neither complex safety devices nor drive devices which permit relatively high speeds. However, on the other hand, the advantage is provided that individual goods wagons can travel from a connection track to a railroad station without complicated shunting maneuvers or can be distributed among connecting tracks from a railroad station. Since the goods wagons are driven independently only over short distances and with their own drive, a minimum degree of equipment is sufficient for them. The method according to the invention permits a cost effective and at the same time fast transport method for goods.

For example, the tractor vehicle is a customary locomotive for long distance journeys, and the drive devices of the goods wagons are switched off during the long journeys. An additional drive of the goods wagons is then in fact generally not necessary. However, in exceptional cases the drive power of the train can be assisted by the drive devices of the goods wagons.

For example, goods wagons with and without their own drive device are pulled by the locomotive. A mixed travel mode is then possible, in which customary goods wagons and the goods wagons which then travel individually from the railroad station to the connecting tracks can be set in a goods train.

For example, on the goods wagons the drive devices are supplied by chargeable energy stores. This may involve accumulators or what are referred to as supercapacitors. Such chargeable energy stores are sufficient for the short and relatively slow journeys which the wagons have to carry out independently.

For example, the chargeable energy stores are charged from the tractor vehicle during long distance journeys when the goods vehicles are coupled to the tractor vehicle. This provides a simple method of charging the energy stores during the long distance journey, so that the goods wagons can then travel immediately from the railroad station to individual connecting tracks independently under their own drive. The charging can be carried out particularly advantageously if the traction motors of the tractor vehicle supply electrical energy, for example, in the generator mode during braking.

For example, the tractor vehicle controls the drive devices of the goods wagons via a data bus or via a radio link. If the drive power of the goods wagons of a train is sufficient for long distance transportation, the tractor vehicle does not need to have a powerful motor. However, open-loop and closed-loop control devices and a driver's cab are provided.

The drive devices of the goods wagons are, for example, remote-controlled for the short distance journeys. This provides the advantage that only one person is sufficient to move a plurality of goods wagons from, for example, a location next to the track.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment, a suitable device is specified for transporting goods by rail by virtue of the fact that the drive devices of the goods wagons are configured for short distance journeys from a railroad station to a customer and back, and that for long distance journeys the goods wagons can be coupled to a tractor vehicle.

This provides the advantage that the goods wagons which move under their own drive can be equipped simply and cost effectively since they only have to travel relatively slowly over short distances. Both the drive power and the safety equipment can be minimized. For long distance journeys, use is then in fact made of a tractor vehicle which pulls the wagons.

For example, the tractor vehicle is a customary locomotive for long distance journeys. A special tractor vehicle does not necessarily have to be made available.

The drive devices of the goods wagons can, for example, be switched off. In particular if the tractor vehicle is a customary locomotive, the goods wagons do not have to be driven themselves. However, in order to provide assistance on up hill journeys the drive devices of the goods wagons can assist the locomotive.

The drive devices of the goods wagons are connected, for example, to chargeable energy stores. These may be accumulators or what are referred to as supercapacitors. The stored energy is advantageously sufficient to move a goods wagon by means of its own drive device over the relatively short distance which it has to cover. Thus, there is no need for complicated power supply devices in the goods wagons.

The energy stores are connected, for example, to the coupled tractor vehicle for the purpose of charging. This provides the advantage that the energy stores are charged in the goods wagons via the tractor vehicle during the long distance journey so that the goods wagons with a drive device can immediately again independently reach the connecting tracks from a railroad station.

For example, the tractor vehicle has only a small intrinsic drive power. This drive power is sufficient to move the tractor vehicle alone. In order to pull a train, the drive devices of the goods wagons must then be added. A simple, cost effective tractor vehicle is sufficient to move a heavy train. A known, customary and expensive main line locomotive is not required.

For example, the tractor vehicle has a control and safety device which is connected via a data bus or a radio link to the drive devices of the goods wagon. This provides the advantage that the drive devices of the goods wagons can, when necessary, be actuated directly from the tractor vehicle. The tractor vehicle requires, in addition to the control and safety device, a driver's cab, a current collector (pantograph) and a power feed converter. It is also possible to provide a diesel assembly or a fuel cell.

In addition to the pantograph, the tractor vehicle mainly requires only electronic components for actuating the drive devices and brakes of the individual goods wagons, as well as other devices which are necessary for long distance transportation.

For example, the goods wagons can be remote-controlled by way of a remote control system. It is then not necessary for a vehicle driver to be present on each goods wagon for the journey from the railroad station to the connecting tracks. Instead, the remote control system can then be used to move the driven goods wagons under the control of a railroad control center or the person standing at the track.

The method and the device according to at least one embodiment of the invention provide in particular the advantage that the advantages of the goods wagon which is equipped with its own drive device (cargo mover) and the advantages of the customary goods train are combined in one transportation system for transporting goods by rail.

Example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A method for transporting goods by rail, wherein goods wagons with their own drive devices are used, the method comprising: using the drive devices of the goods wagons only for relatively short distance journeys from a railroad station to a customer and back; and assembling, for relatively long distance journeys, the goods wagons to form a train which is pulled by a tractor vehicle for long distance journeys.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tractor vehicle is a customary locomotive for relatively long distance journeys, and the drive devices of the goods wagons are switched off during the long distance journeys.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein goods wagons with and without their own drive device are pulled by the locomotive.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, on the goods wagons, the drive devices are supplied by chargeable energy stores.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the chargeable energy stores are charged from the tractor vehicle during the relatively long distance journeys when the goods wagons are coupled to the tractor vehicle.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tractor vehicle controls the drive devices of the goods wagons via at least one of a data bus or and a radio link.
 7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive devices of the goods wagons are remote-controlled for relatively short distance journeys.
 8. A device for transporting goods by rail, wherein goods wagons have their own drive devices, wherein the drive devices of the goods wagons are configured for relatively short distance journeys from a railroad station to a customer and back, and wherein, for relatively long distance journeys, the goods wagons are coupled to a tractor vehicle.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the tractor vehicle is a customary locomotive for relatively long distance journeys.
 10. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the drive devices of the goods wagons are switchable on and off.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the drive devices of the goods wagons are connected to chargeable energy stores.
 12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the energy stores are connected to the coupled tractor vehicle for the purpose of charging.
 13. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the tractor vehicle has only a small intrinsic drive power.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the tractor vehicle has a control and safety device, connected via at least one of a data bus and a radio link to the drive devices of the goods wagons.
 15. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the goods wagons are remote controllable via a remote control system.
 16. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein, on the goods wagons, the drive devices are supplied by chargeable energy stores.
 17. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein, on the goods wagons, the drive devices are supplied by chargeable energy stores.
 18. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the drive devices of the goods wagons are switchable on and off.
 19. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the drive devices of the goods wagons are connected to chargeable energy stores. 